Superzooms To The Rescue!
October 25, 2007: CNET reports that Tamron’s new superzoom will be coming out next Monday – but only in Japan, and only for Canons.
Stephen Shankland writes:
The lens, formally called the AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC, is one of a host of new image-stabilized superzoom lenses on the market. Nikon has said its 18-200mm model is its all-time bestseller. Sigma recently added its own 18-200mm competitor. And Panasonic, whose lenses are compatible with Olympus SLRs and vice versa, also offers a 14-150mm model, which is the same range when translated into 35mm camera terms.
I was interested to see that Nikon has called their 18-200 its “all-time bestseller.” There’s obviously a large market for these (almost) all-in-ones. The Nikon model goes a little wider (it starts at 18mm vs the Tamron 28mm) and a little faster (a maximum 5.6 aperture at the long end, versus the Tamron’s 6.3).
Nikon’s lens is listed as $750 from at least one reputable dealer online. No pricing was announced on the Tamron model. On BH Photo, Sigma’s model, which has the zoom range of Nikon’s lens and the aperture range of Tamron’s, sells for around $550.
Do you have or want a lens in this range? For me, the relatively slow apertures would be a problem. But the zoom range and optical stabilization are sweet.
Scott
October 27th, 2007 at 10:21 am
I dunno Scott, the “slow” apertures just means you can’t shoot with faster shutter speeds unless you are willing to increase noise. There are always trade-offs, and if I have to choose between taking longer to take a shot to avoid noise, then so be it. It’s probably a good thing because it forces the photographer to slow down and take their time because they need to use a tripod. This just which makes for better attention to detail when composing shots. I think we’ve gone too far down the road of “I’ll just fix it in Photoshop later”, and many of the photographers today are simply too impatient. Slow down, compose the shot in your mind and take your time with it to get it right “in camera”. Unless of course, you’re shooting Matt Holiday hitting a grand slam to win the World Series for the Rockies in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 of the World Series..then yeah, this might not be the best lens for you. Just my two cents…
October 27th, 2007 at 10:27 am
The slow speed also concerns me but I am looking for a longer zoom lens than what I’m currently using (17-85). I would much prefer the 70-200, 2.8 IS Canon but $$$$ is a factor right now. The new Canon 55-250 is interesting, but also slow.
I’ll wait for awhile and read some reviews and save some money (actually continue to pay off my camera and lighting equipment) and see what comes up.
Tamron’s site about this lens is pretty interesting. It’s at http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/lineup/a20/vc/index.html
October 28th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Hi Scott and Michael,
I shoot Nikon D-80, I have a Nikon 18-200 VR and I love it, I also have a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 (and a Sigma TC 2x) and a Nikon 50 f1.8, Even though I carry all with me almost all the time the one I have mounted is always the 18-200 VR, and the reason is versatility. It will work on almost all situations if I don’t have time to exchange my lens. Not being very fast was never a real issue for me! I am very happy with it and was impress with the results Michael said he had (a few shows ago) with it!
I am still catching up on all shows and so far the ONLY one I didn’t listen is # 2, because it’s not on itunes, I am now on # 69 so I’m almost up to date, which I don’t know if it’s good or bad, after all I had you, Michael and all the pros you had on the show riding with me for the last month or so and I know I’ll have to wait a full week for news from you when I’m done.
Anyway, keep it as is, you guys are doing a fantastic show. As I mention earlier it’s like having friends talking about stuff we enjoy in common.
I guess I will be participating more as I get current, both here and through your contests!
Eladio (Still waiting you to read my name…) :-D ;-)
October 29th, 2007 at 4:49 am
I have the Sigma 28-300 and it’s the lens that is 95% of the time on my d70’s
I encountered some issues recently with the “slow” aperture, but it on the whole has been a very impressive lens.
Almost all of my iStock portfolio was shot on it.
Next investment is maybe a similar range with faster glass and VR.
Great show guys. Keep up the good work.
October 30th, 2007 at 5:43 am
I use the Nikon 18-200 VR quite a bit, although I must admit I’m a little surprised to hear it is their best seller.
I do also own some fast glass, but it’s not always the best choice. Jason mentions trade-offs, don’t forget that a trade off with fast glass can be depth of field. If the DOF from f/2.8 isn’t acceptable, then the fast lens isn’t going to be any help. At that point the VR just gives you another way to solve the problem.
November 3rd, 2007 at 12:01 am
I hear and agree with every post here! For most outdoors and party shooting, I use my Nikon 18-200 VR. For most excursions (tight indoor shots) and treks, I use my Sigma 10-20 HSM. I’ve been shooting for over 30 years (first cameras being a Canon AE-1 & A-1 system), and I must say that these new digital zooms really rock. Yes, I understand that they are a little on the slow side. But, look at the cost factor and the capabilities. These fit a huge niche. In most cases, you may not be able to move towards the subject to create a tighter crop. I weigh the ability to crop tighter using a zoom than using a wider angle fixed lens and having to crop the picture later. When shooting, a tighter crop greatly reduces exposure, highlight, and color balance problems. The camera gets to only sample the subject and not other distractions…
IMHO, in over 30 years, these new zooms are getting a whole lot better. Wider zoom ranges, very fast and very quite focus motors (heck, my early Canon FD’s were only manual focus), very light and small for their capabilities, and for some, built in image stabilization. The zoom lens speed (aperture) and image quality has not improved much, but hey, let’s not ask for too much. We have a terrific selection of zooms available and compared to yesteryears cost, they are quite reasonable. For us who remember where we were 30 years ago, we would just melt to see what we currently have (all brands and makes considered). Laws of physics (increased size, more weight, more glasses = possible softer pictures) and greatly increased costs will limit the creation of super zooms which are very fast (with larger apertures). Most of us will only spend so much for a lens, no matter how good it is…
Yes, I too love faster fixed lenses! But, at times, you cannot use the larger apertures as the depth of field is just too shallow. How many times have you had to close down your aperture a bit as the depth of field was softening the depth of your subject too fast, and noticed that you were back up to f4 or 5.6? Isn’t this to where most zooms are? Also, isn’t this the primary reason the new bodies are boasting higher ISOs with far less noise?…
I was surprised to notice many working pros using shorter range zooms (some even using a few extended range zooms), and they have left their fixed lenses in their gadget bags. I’ve asked them about this and for the same reasons I mentioned above, it was to reduce their post workflow efforts. The fixed lens gave them too much sharpness and was not needed for the assignment. They still used the fixed lenses where it requires the great trait of reduced depth of field. But, fixed lens uses were becoming an “only when needed” trait…
November 10th, 2007 at 3:52 am
I own the Nikon 18-200, which stays on my Nikon D40 most of the time. I have experienced some vignetting when using a circular polarizer at the wide end. Aside from that, I think it really does represent a great value for the money.
Really not surprised to find it is their best seller. Not all Nikonians want lightning speed-some of them want versatility and flexibility.
A